The Briefing with Jen Psaki
Horror Show: Trump and Vance Exploit Zelenskyy's Desperation in Oval Office Shakedown
Sun, 2 Mar 2025
Jen Psaki delves into the fiasco that transpired in the Oval Office on Friday, revealing an ominous sign that foreshadowed the spectacle of Donald Trump and JD Vance teaming up before the cameras to belittle and denigrate President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. She's joined by David Remnick of The New Yorker and Michael McFaul, the former US Ambassador to Russia, to discuss the administration's attempt exploit Zelenskyy on false pretenses in a confrontation that had all the hallmarks of an ambush. Next, Jen shows how the principles that Secretary Marco Rubio once claimed to believe as a Senator offer a clear rebuttal to the administration's current posture toward Russia. She's joined by Senator Mark Kelly, who reacts to the GOP's stunning about face on Ukraine just hours after meeting personally with President Zelenskyy. Finally, Jen delves into the ways Elon Musk is fleecing the Federal Government while claiming to be fighting "waste." Check out our social pages below:https://twitter.com/InsideWithPsakihttps://www.instagram.com/InsideWithPsaki/https://www.tiktok.com/@insidewithpsakihttps://www.msnbc.com/jen-psakihttps://bsky.app/profile/insidewithpsaki.msnbc.com
Chapter 1: What happened during the Trump and Zelenskyy meeting?
Well, I've been in my fair share of Oval Office meetings, but fortunately none quite like that one. Most of the world has been reacting in horror to the way Trump and Vance berated Ukraine's president on Friday. But not the Kremlin. This morning, they said it all aligns with their vision.
David Remnick is the editor-in-chief of The New Yorker and served as the Washington Post's Moscow bureau chief. Michael McFaul is the former U.S. ambassador to Russia. And both of them join me live in just a moment.
Plus, I'll ask Senator Mark Kelly about his Republican colleagues who are twisting themselves into pretzels to defend Donald Trump in this moment, as one of them actually decides to speak out. OK, what we saw on Friday in the Oval Office is one of those things, even if you had a crazy week, you almost definitely heard about.
Even if you don't follow the news closely, my bet is you heard something or saw something about what happened between Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Vladimir Zelensky. Lots of people were appalled for good reason. Vladimir Putin was delighted, which tells you something. But it was something that the whole world kind of stopped and watched.
I mean, in the aftermath of that horror show, the UK and France felt the need to develop their own peace plan with Ukraine that they will present to us. The front page of one of the biggest British conservative newspapers called Trump a bully who is no longer welcome for his state visit. And here at home, protesters in Vermont lined up to greet Vice President J.D.
Vance, carrying signs with slogans like compassion is not transactional, democracy, not fascism. And my personal favorite, go ski in Russia, J.D. That's creative. But hey, I guess at least someone was happy. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov came out and said today that Trump's foreign policy, quote, largely coincides with our vision.
A statement, by the way, that would have made the skin crawl of former Republican leaders like John McCain and Mitt Romney and many others. Let's just back up for a second, because there were some things that happened before Friday, before that meeting on Friday, that just gave you a sense it was going to be a bonkers day at the White House.
I just want to focus on one of them just for a moment, because I think it's telling. Because earlier in the day, we started getting reports from journalists at the White House that a member of Russian state media had gained access to that meeting in the Oval Office. We also learned that Reuters and the Associated Press were left out.
Now, just to be clear, to put a little fine point on this one, that means an outlet that literally takes direction from the Kremlin briefly had access to a meeting between the sitting US president and the president of the country that their bosses invaded. It also means two global wire services known for reporting straight news around the world were denied access.
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Chapter 2: How did the media coverage of the Oval Office meeting unfold?
A lot of a number of Republicans, not just in the Senate, but in the House, voted against that. The Affordable Care Act repeal because America stood up, woke up and actually said no.
This is such an important reminder. There's also governor's races this year. There's lots of things coming up. Neera Tanden, thank you so much for joining me. It's really great to see you. Thanks for having me. Coming up, a sneak peek at two brand new episodes of The Blueprint coming out tomorrow. We'll be right back. OK, two more episodes of our new podcast, The Blueprint, are out tomorrow.
I talked to Stacey Abrams about what it's going to take to keep Democratic voters engaged during a second Trump term. I also talked to former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan. We talked about a lot of things, including a guy he knows well, Vice President J.D. Vance. What drives you craziest about what people's perception is of him that's just wrong?
He uses his God-given abilities and his story and his tragedies and traumas to help people who don't need it.
To validate the richest man in the world.
It's unbelievable. So, yeah, that drives me nuts. You know, because you see, I mean, you live with people who are struggling. And I think in a lot of ways he has forgotten where he came from. And the people that are still out there struggling, he knows how to use it as a tagline or a punchline or, you know, a talking point. But I don't think he remembers exactly the...
you know, kind of pain that people are still going through.
Those new episodes with Tim Ryan and Stacey Abrams will be available tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts.
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